Way too early 2025-26 NHL Draft discussion

[Fistfullofbeer]

It’s probably me just being a Debbie Downer here but it’s hard for me to get excited about players 3 or 4 years away from the Kraken team.

We kind of got lucky that Matty and Shane didn’t go that route but it’s rare.

Depends on where we end up in the draft. If we draft top-6, I can see the prospect make it to the NHL after his D+1 year.

 

[majormajor]

It’s probably me just being a Debbie Downer here but it’s hard for me to get excited about players 3 or 4 years away from the Kraken team.

We kind of got lucky that Matty and Shane didn’t go that route but it’s rare.

I remember that feeling, but I still end up neck deep in prospect video with my own extensive rankings by the time April rolls around. Happens every time.

 

[Dead Coyote]

I'm just starting to see some video of those guys and I'd be giddy for either one of them. Martone especially. I think he might look like a better NHLer than Hagens and Misa.

I definitely don't see him being better than Hagens, Hagens IMO is one of the best prospects in recent memory. I actually like him more than Bedard as an NHL player (not saying much for me mind you since I also think Michkov and Carlsson are better) because I think his game translates better to the NHL.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

I am curious, which of the prospects from this draft do you see getting NHL games right away? I can see Hagens, Martone, Schaeffer and maybe Misa? I see McQueen needing more time in juniors because he missed some significant time due to injury this season. Frondell and Eklund likely need 1-2 more years in Europe or the AHL before they are ready. Frondell may be quicker because he is physically more developed than Eklund.

None of that should really matter to us, since I don't expect us to be competitive till 2026-27 at the earliest.

 

[majormajor]

I am curious, which of the prospects from this draft do you see getting NHL games right away? I can see Hagens, Martone, Schaeffer and maybe Misa? I see McQueen needing more time in juniors because he missed some significant time due to injury this season. Frondell and Eklund likely need 1-2 more years in Europe or the AHL before they are ready. Frondell may be quicker because he is physically more developed than Eklund.

None of that should really matter to us, since I don't expect us to be competitive till 2026-27 at the earliest.

None of them?

Schaefer doesn't turn 18 until the Fall and will have been injured through the second half of the year, it doesn't make sense to put him in the NHL.

 

[Dead Coyote]

I could only see Schaefer, Hagens, and Martone getting a look but realistically they probably all need or should have a year in the AHL.

 

[Dead Coyote]

Honestly if we can't get Schaefer or Hagens or Misa, one guy I've begun looking at is one of our own Thunderbirds, Radim Mrtka. He was on my radar last year just as a guy who was massive and was seeing a shocking amount of play in the Czech leagues (seriously, he was quickly elevated to the U20 league as a 16yo and saw significant time there, even played in the men's league) but since coming to Seattle he's shot up mine (and everyone's) draft boards. He's a 6'6 nearly 200lb d-man who simultaneously plays like he's 6 inches shorter while still effectively using his size and reach.

Have you ever seen a 6'6 d-man stutter step around a forward to gain space in the o-zone and then rip a shot that turns into a goal? Well since watching Radim, I have.

Have you ever seen a 6'6 d-man suddenly become a forechecker and pinch so far deep into the O-zone that you might mistake him for a forward?

His offensive abilities have popped off of the page for me this year, it's clear that since coming to SEA he's MUCH more confident than he was in Czechia and now playing against his peers he's way more confident with pinching and carrying the puck.

But that's not to say he's bad defensively. He's primarily been labeled as a defensive d-man and I think that's a great assessment of him. He has all the tools and he uses them extremely well. The thing I want to highlight the most from him defensively is his skating. It isn't just good for a man of his size, it's unique in that he doesn't rely on strength or long strides- he skates like a smaller more technical player, and as a result his edges and agility are fantastic, possibly the best I've ever seen from a player his size. His acceleration and speed aren't top notch but they're above average for a player of his size and because he's just so BIG he can keep up with some of the faster skaters and rarely gets burnt because his very presence takes space away from them. He isn't as good a skater as Silayev was, but his agility and edges are better and I think he's better offensively. Defensively he needs to work on his poise without the puck as he'll sometimes get caught flat footed or be surprised which can lead to opportunities, but when he's in his rhythm and able to predict and analyze the play (something I think he's quite good at) he's an incredibly smothering force, possibly the most dominant CHL defenseman defensively I've seen in quite some time.

Offensively he's vastly improved ever since coming to SEA, his confidence is a big part of his offensive game and he plays like a Rick Nash or a Lawson Crouse does offensively. He's extremely adept at protecting pucks, and is generally good under pressure, he's shown the ability to make exceptional breakout passes and has shown good vision which has only gotten better since coming to the WHL. He's also very good at picking his spots and his positional play is fantastic both offensively and defensively, he was always a risk averse d-man defensively but he's now learned to take advantage of some situations and has gotten a lot better at picking his spots offensively. His stick handling is also above average, he doesn't quite have the elite potential of someone like Makar or Hughes but he also doesn't need to because his reach makes everything else so much easier for him.

His shot is really the only thing I want to see him improve more, he needs to put on more strength and I think he has the potential to be one of the best shooters in the draft, especially with his slap shot. Right now he has a bit of a muffin, hard but not accurate enough.

Overall though if he keeps progressing like he is offensively and is able to improve his shot I could easily see him becoming the best d-man in the draft. I think it says something that he's succeeded everywhere he's gone and that his coaches always trust him. Even as he is now I see a lock for a bruising feisty smothering defensive d-man who PK's, if he improves his offense even more we could be looking at the next Chara, and I don't say that lightly.

 

[luapejrug]

Do the Kraken go for Misa or Hagens if one of them falls to them? If they have a chance Schaefer they go for that 100% but that's only if they pick 2nd and Chicago is before them.

I like the chances of Martone being there around the range where they look to be picking right now.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Do the Kraken go for Misa or Hagens if one of them falls to them? If they have a chance Schaefer they go for that 100% but that's only if they pick 2nd and Chicago is before them.

I like the chances of Martone being there around the range where they look to be picking right now.

I would be surprised if either of those three are available to us beyond 4. But between the 3 of them I would think Schaefer, Misa and Hagens is the order I would go for. Past that, I can see them go for either Martone or McQueen. Both are big forwards who can play wing. It fits the teams need BUT also is about where they are ranked on most boards.